William potteb



(No Model.)

W. POTTER.

GRAPPLE.

No. 365,940.. Patented July 5, 1887.

UNITED` STATES PATENT EEIcj.

YVILLIAM POTTER, OF SPRING HILL, KANSAS.

G RAPPLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 365.940,'lated July 5, 1887.

Applration filed October 28,1886.

To all whom it may. concern.'

Be it known that I, WILLIAM POTTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Spring Hill, in the county of Johnson and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grapples; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and eXact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawing, making a part of this specincation,- and to the letters and iigures of reference marked thereon.

The present invention has for its object to provide a practically operating grapple adapted for digging or cleaning out. wells or cisterns,

and that can be operated by hand or windlass,

and when let down in an open position will eiifcetually close upon the object to be drawn up and hold it securely while being elevated.

The invention consists in a grapple substantially as shown in the drawing, and hereinafter described and claimed.

The accompanying drawing represents a grapple constructed in accordance with my invention, showing it in full lines in an open position ready to be lowered into a well or cistern, and showing it in dotted lilies in a closed position.

The grapple consistssubstantially of the arms A B, pivoted together at a, said arms being enlarged, as shown at b, and increased in thickness, so 'as to form a stronger pivoted connection `between the two, and insuring increased strength where most needed. The arms A B, at their lower ends, terminate in claws or hooks C; or, if preferred, scoops or other grappling-heads may be substituted, and may be of any preferred size, as found desirable. The upper ends of the arms A B have eyes c, with which engage elongated linksd, said links also engaging with a ring, e, to which is attached one end of a chain or rope,

f, which may either be operated by hand or Serial No. 217,413. (No model.)

engage with a notch, L, on the arm A, thereby holding the arms with their grapple-heads in an extended position, as shown in full lines, and in which position the grapple is let down into the well or cistern, and when the grappleheads strike the bottom the chain or ropef will in turn slack, and consequently thehooks C will be slightly raised sufliciently to release the latch D from the notch lL, thereby allowing the grapple-heads to come together and close against the object to be raised from out the well or cistern. A peculiar feature of the latch D is that it is curved on the arc of a circle, thereby forming a stronger and more substantial support for the grappling-arms; and, further, it is made tapering, it increasing'in width in a direction toward its pivotal connection, so that its greatest weight will be at that point, thus insuring a more perfect automatic action in releasingitself when the grapplingeheads strike the bottom of the well or cistern.

I am aware that oyster-tongs and the like have been formed oftwo arms pivoted. substantially like mine and provided with meansas a position shown in dotted lines in the' drawings.

This is important. I

.I am aware that gravity-latches are not new, broadly, in this connection, and therefore do not seek to cover such. It will be noticed that I arrange my notch and latch below the pivotal point of the arms A B, where the latch can in no way interfere with the perfect working of the arms, as it is apt to do when arranged above the said pivotal point, and I also curve it on the are of a circle, thus adding greatly to its strength.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The grappling device described, consisting IOO of the arms A B', pivoted together at a and provided with suitable grappling heads or hooks, C, and one ofsaid arms provided with a notch, h, below the pivotal point thereof, the

5 latch D, curved on the arc of a circle, and bifurcated at one end, which bifurcated end is pivoted to one of said arms beneath the pivot of said arms, said latch being tapered, as shown, with its greatest Width at its pivoted end, links io d, engaging eyescin the ends ofthearms AB,

and the ring e, engaging the opposite ends of said links, all substantially as shown, and for the purpose specified. l

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence I 5 of two Witnesses.

' WILLAM POTTER.

Witnesses:

GEORGE B. SoWERs, TH'os. DRYDEN. 

